Page 13 of To Hell and Back
After a while, he’d stopped fighting it and let her stay. Since he had no clue how to raise a temperamental teenager, it had been a collective effort of the guardians. That had clearly been a mistake, considering how she had used everything she’d learned to track down and execute every person who had been responsible for the death of her family before she had even graduated from the magical academy he forced her to attend.
When Killian had discovered what she’d been doing, he hadn’t been that surprised. Instead of getting angry, he was impressed by her skills and fortitude. Getting upset would have been hypocritical anyway since he would have done the same damn thing if he’d been in her position.
Only less stealthy and with a whole lot more bloodshed.
As crazy as she seemed at times, Anika was instrumental in managing the Guardians of the Underworld. She did an excellent job keeping everyone in line, and she kept meticulous records that allowed them to track patterns and conduct follow-ups on cases when necessary.
“Where we going, boss?”
He wasn’t sure her specific talents would be needed for this outing, but it couldn’t hurt to let her tag along. Besides, if she got bored, she could just teleport home without them.
“The Manor.”
“Sweet. It’s been a while since we visited Arson. Are we hunting someone?”
That made him sigh again. He wished it was that simple. “We are going to investigate a surge of magic.”
She frowned. “I didn’t sense any surge.”
“Neither did I.”Even through their telepathic connection, Dario sounded aggrieved by that fact.
“At this time, I don’t know who or what caused it.”
“Sounds interesting. I’ll tag along since I’d like to speak to Neely,” she said, mentioning the demon-fairy hybrid who was the executive chef at The Manor.
She snapped her fingers to add a little flourish as she used her magic to change her outfit to a dark gray pencil skirt and matching jacket with a pale pink shell underneath, along with a pair of stilettos. Her long hair had been pulled back into an elegant chignon, and she wore a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that did nothing to detract from her natural beauty.
One second was all it took to alter her image from a wild biker to a studious assistant. She liked to dress in what she called “work mode” while they were investigating since it made it more fun to surprise people whenever she started kicking ass.
“Thought you were spending the weekend in London,”Dario commented.
Anika sighed heavily. “The problem was already solved by the time I got there. The wolf shifter who had been attacking those women had been sliced and diced by an angry fairy. You really should consider recruiting her. The way she carved up that vile rapist was like a work of art.”
Dario snorted in amusement. “You want to recruit a rage fairy?”
“I do,” Anika confirmed primly. “I think she would make a great addition to the team. That’s actually what I want to talk to Neely about. I think they know each other, and I figure I can start the vetting process.”
“Hmm,” Killian murmured noncommittally, though he did make a mental note to check the fairy out later.
He glanced out the window as Dario drove them straight through the portal he created. They didn’t have to worry about being seen since they would be appearing in a section of the grounds that was surrounded by trees and heavily warded against prying human eyes. They would be able to exit the portal and turn onto the driveway without anyone noticing anything odd about their arrival.
The portal closed behind them the moment they drove through it, and Killian frowned at the splatter of rain that immediately glazed the windows. Dario paused the vehicle before leaving the warded section to make sure the area was clear before turning onto the long driveway.
“What do you think caused the surge of magic?” Anika asked.
“I’m not sure,” Killian admitted. “But I’m looking forward to finding out.”
An unknown mystery to solve was definitely a good way to cure boredom. A sense of anticipation tingled in the air, hinting at secrets waiting to be uncovered. He wasn’t sure what the answers might be, but he had a strange feeling that nothing would ever be the same once it was revealed.
Chapter Five
The Manor wasactually three separate buildings centered around a massive fountain and large circular driveway. The entire compound was surrounded by a natural barrier of lush trees and vegetation, affording those who visited a feeling of privacy and exclusivity.
The main building was a towering six-story structure made of gray stone, glass, and steel. Over the years, it had been renovated and remodeled, but the foundation remained the same. Some might have called it a modern palace, but Killian had always thought it looked more like a luxurious fortress.
The interior of the building was more like an opulent hotel than an average club, with several lounges, a snack bar, a fine dining restaurant, and discreet staff who catered to the members’ every whim. There were also private suites that could be reserved by club members. The upper floors were supernatural-only areas that were heavily warded to keep humans away. That was where most of the employees lived, and there was plenty of space for any other supernaturals who might need sanctuary.
A full fitness center and spa were located to the right of the main building. Besides a state-of-the-art gym and relaxing spa, there was a large indoor pool, racquetball courts, and a full-sized basketball court. Behind the building was an outdoor pool that was only available during the warmer months, along with tennis courts, a golf course, an impressive garden, and a small orchard.
